Selective fire control mechanism



March 15, 1966 s. P. BOLLES SELECTIVE FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1964 March 1966 s. P. BOLLES SELECTIVE FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1964 INVENTOR. fiA/mvfiflaws S. P. BOLLES SELECTIVE FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM 6 March 15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 14, 1964 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,240,122 SELECTIVE FIRE CONTROL MECHANISM Seaman P. Bolles, 103 Tuttle Road, San Antonio, Tex. Filed Apr. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 359,596 3 Claims. (Cl. 89140) This invention relates to improvements in fire control mechanisms for automatic firearms having reciprocating bolts.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved selective fire control mechanism which may be used for semi-automatic or fully automatic firing for a firearm of the type disclosed in US. Patent Nos. 2,377,388; 2,715,355 and 2,823,589, filed March 16, 1939, July 23, 1945 and March 31, 1952, respectively.

Another object of the invention is the conversion of the conventional semi-automatic rifle, of the class described, to full automatic selective fire by modification to the receiver, stock and trigger housing mechanisms by the use of a few additional simple parts and the elimination of six parts of the old feed system to make the rifle more fully automatic and more dependable in operation.

A still further object of the invention is the conversion of the above class of rifle described, to a fully automatic rifle which is reliable, substantially free from jamming, and adapted to handle more fire power in the form of magazine clips and the like.

A yet further object of the invention is to change the firing action of a semi-automatic rifle, of the class described, t-o semi-automatic and fully automatic firing action by the use of a selective fire switch and a 20 or more round magazine and the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds of the new invention comprised of the added new combination and rearrangement of parts accompanied with the new details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention of applicant to cover all changes and modifications of the modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal side elevational view of some of the operating parts of the modified rifle of the instant invention with certain parts thereof broken away for clarity with the selector switch in the automatic fining position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear end of the rod follower and its engagement with the catch follower;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the invention taken substantially on lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2, in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of certain of the parts as shown in FIGURE 1 after the gas pressure of a firing round has moved the operating rod rearwardly;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention, partly in section, taken substantially on lines 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the sear, with certain related parts shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, with the selector switch in the semi-automatic firing position;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, taken substantially on lines 88 of FIGURE 7, in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view, partly in section, taken substantially on lines 9-9 of FIGURE 7, in the direction of the arrows;

3,246,122 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the trip rod element;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the rod follower;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of FIG- URE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view taken behind the elements of FIGURE 1, with parts in section, and with certain related parts shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational view of the selector cam;

FIGURE 15 is an end elevational view of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a side elevational view of the spring clip;

FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view of the receiver, with added material indicated in solid lines as compared to the sectioned and broken lines of the side elevational view of the above class of rifie before being modified and improved by the instant invention; and

FIGURE 18 is an end elevational view of FIGURE 17.

Like reference numerals represent like parts in the several views of the drawing.

Referring in detail to the drawings of FIGURES 1 through 18, the reference numeral 20 represents generally the improved Garand rifle of U8. Patent No. 2,377,338 filed March 16, 1939, in which the receiver 22 has been recessed in this invention to accommodate a new box-like shell magazine 24. The original bullet guide, arm follower, slide follower, follower, accelerator pin and accelerator of the above patent have been discarded in favor of the new improvements of this invention, as will be hereinafter described.

In these improvements, the follower rod 26 has been straightened, and operating rod catch 28 has been shortened to clear the new magazine well 25 by leaving only a shoulder 36 thereon to contact magazine 24 when it is received within the rifle 20. Slot means 26a of follower rod 26 engages pin means 161, as shown in FIGURE 7. The shoulder 36 on the catch 28 makes it impossible for the catch means 28 to operate as long as new magazine 24 is in the rifle 20, as shown in FIGURE 7. Also, the bottom surface of the catch 28 has an added thin plate 34 brazed onto it. The follower rod slot 36 is recessed in catch 28 to accommodate the new straightened follower rod 26.

The transverse slot 126 of FIGURE of Patent No. 2,377,338 was used to receive lug 127 on operating rod 24 and, hence, holds the bolt 2 of US. Patent 2,715,355 open after the last shot so that the empty clip could be ejected and a full clip could be loaded into the rifle.

In the new improved form of rifle of this invention, member 136 of Patent No. 2,377,338 has been eliminated as shown in catch means 28 of FIGURES 2 and 3 of the instant application. However, the original transverse slot means 126 engaged transverse lug means 127 on operating rod 24- and transverse slot means 126 of Patent No. 2,377,388 is still retained in this invention as transverse slot or catch 28a of catch means 28 to prevent catch means 28 from causing jamming of the operation of operating rod 44.

Handle 48 of operating rod 44 has been modified by adding a block of steel material 46 on the bottom side of thumb handle 48. Material 46 is for the purpose of engaging lug means 51 of auto trip rod means 5% when the operating rod 44 and bolt means 54 goes into battery position, as hereinafter explained. Auto trip rod means contains a recess slot 51a at one end and a transverse lug means 51 at the other end, as best shown in FIGURE 10.

The trip rod 50 is connected to the auxiliary sear 56 by two new link means 58 and 60, respectively. Link means 58 has two camming surfaces 62 and 64, respectively, which contacts new extension means 66 on sear 56 for different modes of operation, as will be hereinafter explained. Link means 58 and 6t are cooperatively and pivotally riveted together by rivet means 66a in such a manner and alignment that link means 58 by the camming surfaces 62 and 64 contacts auxiliary sear means 56 for the different modes of operation of ride 26). Trip rod means 50 at its distal end has a side extending flange portion '1 cooperating with member 46 of operating handle 44.

Follower rod means 26 comprises at one end slot means 26a and at the other end a transverse extending round portion 26b and arc-uate rounded end 260, as best shown in FIGURES 11 and 12. The straightening of the original follower rod means 26 was necessary due to the abovementioned elimination of parts and to obtain new smooth modes of operation of the rifle 29.

By turning firing selector cam switch means 68 by handle means 70, grooved cam means 72 of switch means 68 positions cam link means 53 for the desired modes of operation of the rifle by selectively positioning the above cam surfaces 62 and 64 in contact with auxiliary sear means 56. Link means 58 and 6% are secured together in such a manner by rivet means 66a, so that when selector switch means 68 is operated, link means 58 and 66: will not bind and operate freely with selector switch means 68 during operation. Link return spring means 12% is secured by rivet means 125 to the new side plate extension means 74 to bring link means 6% to a rear position, thereby moving link means 58 to a neutral position. Link means 6!} is further pivoted to member 74 by pin means 61.

By the use of the hand operated selective fire switch means 70 of selector switch 68, the outer surface of link means 58 is made to bear against side extension means 66 of sear means 56 to trip hammer means 139 (FIG- URE 13) when bolt means 54 and operating handle means 48 goes into battery position, as the result of which the firing and reloading cycle is repeated. The selective fire switch lever 70 is held in position by the selector spring means 79.

Selector spring means 79 is comprised of an upper arcuate portion 7% and of a lower arcuate portion 7% and is adapted to engage slot means 73a of firing selector switch means 68, as best shown in FIGURES 14 and 16. Spring means 79 frictionally engages groove means 73a of selector shaft 73 to secure and frictionally bias selector switch means 68 in bearing means Mil in trigger housing 150, for each rotary position corresponding to a mode of operation as shown in FIGURES 1, 7 and 9. Handle means 74? is secured to shaft means 72 by screw means 700 and 70b.

Sear means 56 has been modified by an integral portion 66 to selectively and laterally contact the cam surfaces 62 and 64 and notch means 64a of link cam means 58.

The floor plate means 82. of the trigger guard assembly means 84 has been recessed by aperture means 86 to fit the new magazine 24, and has been extended by new forward recessed portion 88 to provide lateral guide and bearing surfaces 90 and 92 to magazine 2 inserted therein. Forward portion 88 of trigger guard assembly means 84 is secured by screw means 96 to aperture 93 of assembly means 84- to stock means 98 and magazine housing means 1%, as best shown in FIGURE 1.

Magazine means 24 is secured in trigger guard assembly 84 by latch means 192 actuated by spring means 1494 to engage by notch means 107 a recess or other conventional means 106 of new magazine means 24, as shown.

Stock means 98 has been recessed to allow clearance for operation of modified auxiliary sear means 55, side plate extension means 74 and the selective fire switch means 68, as well as new magazine means 24.

The spring clip means 74a is shortened in length in lower portion 78 so that its end portion 80 no longer extends into the area of new magazine 24.

Magazine latch means 106 is secured by pin means 1% to mounting means 110 secured by screw means 112 to trigger latch assembly 82, in a conventional manner, Mounting means 11% is comprised of recessed aperture means 109 for clearance of spring means 104 around pin means 108, as shown.

Link means 6%} is secured to trip rod means 50 by pin means 53 in slot means 51a for straight line reciprocating movement of trip rod means 50.

Spring means comprises upper portion 76 and lower portion 78. The upper portion 76 of spring means 75 serves as a bias means for safety means 76a, While the lower portion 78 serves as a base.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 7 and 17, follower rod means 26 is secured in plate means 34 which is secured to magazine portion by pin means 101.

Flate extension means 74 is secured to rear magazine portion 100 by pin means 21.

FIGURES 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 and 15 disclose in detail the firing selector switch means 68 comprising switch or lever means 7% connected to a shaft portion 72 eccentrically connected to a cam portion 72a connected to a plate portion 72b which is connected to shaft portion 73 having a groove portion 73a therein, as best shown in FIGURE 14. Cam portion 72a cooperates with slot means 59 of link cam member 58 for the automatic and semi-automatic modes of firing operation, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 7, respectively, as above described.

Operation During operation, if the firing selector switch 68 is in the position shown in FIGURE 7, the new lug 46 of thumb handle 48 engages lateral side portion 51 of trip rod means 5% which holds link means 60 and 58 in the position shown in FIGURE 7 which does not trip auxiliary sear means 56 from the hammer means of rifle means 20, which is in the semi-automatic firing position and will not fire until the trigger 77 has been pulled.

If the firing selector switch 68 is in the automatic firing position during the above operation, trip rod means 50 through linkage means 60 and 58 will automatically trip sear means 56 releasing the hammer 13d of the rifle 29 to automatically and consecutively fire the ammunition in magazine 24 when the trigger is held back. The safety latch 76a operates as described in the above patent,

During the automatic firing mode of operation of this invention, as shown in FIGURE 1, the firing mode of operation may be instantaneously changed to that of semiautomatic operation by merely turning firing selector switch 68 to the semi-automatic position indicated in FIG- URE 7.

During each of the semi-automatic and automatic modes of firing of the rifle of the instant invention, spring means 124i is biased against linkage means 60 and internal recess 60a shown in broken lines of member 74, as best shown in FIGURE 7. Member 74 is secured to the rifle by pin means 21, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 7.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides improvements in the above class of firearm which permits an improved mode of operation of the firearm with simplification of parts, elimination of certain parts, and novel rearrangement of parts therein which improvements permit instantaneous switching in the method of converting semi-automatic fire to automatic fire mode of operation with a minimal possibility of repair, insuring a dependable firearm under all weather and environmental field conditions.

From the foregoing, it will now be seen that there is herein an improved automatic mode of operation of the above type of firearm as described, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept as obtained within the purview of this invention as desired by those with ordinary skill in the art without departing therefrom, it is, therefore, to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A rifle having a reciprocating gas actuated bolt, a spring loaded hammer for striking said bolt, a barrel, and a fire control selector comprising a trip bar having a rearward end slidably mounted on said rifle and having a lug positioned for intermittent engagement with said bolt as said bolt moves forwardly, a first elongated link pivotally mounted on said rifle adjacent said rearward end of said trip bar, means pivotally connecting the upper end of said first link to said trip bar, a second link positioned adjacent said first link comprising an upper camming surface for semi-automatic fire and a lower camming surface for automatic fire, said camming surfaces being connected by a substantially -straight surface, means pivotally connecting said second link to said first link for rotative movement of said second link, sear means mounted on said rifle adjacent said second link, said sear means including hook means for periodically engaging said hammer, and means providing a camming surface for selectively sliding along said upper or lower camming surfaces and a sear retention surface substantially parallel with said straight surface of said second link means, means on said rifle for adjusting said second link with respect to said sear means to selectively position said camming surface of said sear on said upper camming surface or on said lower camming surface of said second link.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the last-mentioned means includes a slot in said second link, an eccentric rotatable in said slot to vary the position of said camming surfaces, and spring means retaining said cam in a selected position of adjustment.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein spring means are provided engaging said first link normally to bias said second link toward a selected position of adjustment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,452,617 11/1948 Wechsler 89140 2,568,198 9/1951 Loomis et a1 89140 SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examiner.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Examiner. 

1. A RIFLE HAVING A RECIPROCATING GAS ACTUATED BOLT, A SPRING LOADED HAMMER FOR STRIKING SAID BOLT, A BARREL, AND A FIRE CONTROL SELECTOR COMPRISING A TRIP BAR HAVING A REARWARD END SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RIFLE AND HAVING A LUG POSITIONED FOR INTERMITTENT ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BOLT AS SAID BOLT MOVES FORWARDLY, A FIRST ELONGATED LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID RIFLE ADJACENT SAID REARWARD END OF SAID TRIP BAR, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE UPPER END OF SAID FIRST LINK TO SAID TRIP BAR, A SECOND LINK POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID FIRST LINK COMPRISING AN UPPER CAMMING SURFACE FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC FIRE AND A LOWER CAMMING SURFACE FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE, SAID CAMMING SURFACES BEING CONNECTED BY A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT SURFACE, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SECOND LINK TO SAID FIRST LINK FOR ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND LINK, SEAR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID RIFLE ADJACENT SAID SECOND LINK, SAID SEAR MEANS INCLUDING HOOK MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY ENGAGING SAID HAMMER, AND MEANS PROVIDING A CAMMING SURFACE FOR SELECTIVELY SLIDING ALONG SAID UPPER OR LOWER CAMMING SURFACES AND A SEAR RETENTION SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID STRAIGHT SURFACE OF SAID SECOND LINK MEANS, MEANS ON SAID RIFLE FOR ADJUSTING SAID SECOND LINK WITH RESPECT TO SAID SEAR MEANS TO SELECTIVELY POSITION SAID CAMMING SURFACE OF SAID SEAR ON SAID UPPER CAMMING SURFACE OR ON SAID LOWER CAMMING SURFACE OF SAID SECOND LINK. 